Upload
ryan-gill
View
1.785
Download
3
Tags:
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Chapter 19
1. Railroad Expansion2. Railroads Stimulate the Economy3. Effects on the Economy and Nation
Railroad Expansion From 1860 to 1890 the United
States had rapidly increased the amount of railroad within its borders
The expansion of the railroad system was accompanied by consolidation (the practice of combining separate companies within an industry)
Large railroad companies began to buy small railroad companies in order to expand
Railroad Barons (owners of large consolidated railroad companies)
Railroad Barons were aggressive and competitive, and their methods were highly questionable (very little regulation on business)
James J. HillGreat Northern Line (Minnesota to Washington State)
Leland StanfordCentral Pacific (California to Utah)
Cornelius VanderbiltNew York Central Line (New York to the Great Lakes)
Railroads Stimulate the EconomyRailroads important for the transportation of raw materials
and manufactured goodsDemand for railroad making industries grew (iron, lumber,
steel)Railroad companies provided thousands of jobs for
Americans In order to improve and unify the railroad system, standard
gauge (set distance between the rails of railways) was used to allow the faster shipment of goods at reduced cost
Air brakes, couplers (to link railcars), refrigerated cars, “sleeping” or luxury cars, dining cars
Effects on the Economy and Nation Competition for customers
caused many larger railroad companies to give rebates to their biggest customers, which smaller companies couldn’t offer
Railroad Barons made secret agreements amongst themselves called pools, which allowed each baron to completely control a certain region of business
Centers of certain economies shifted from the East to the Midwest
Trains redistributed the population of the United States
Spread of the railroad system led to the national system of time with 4 time zones
1. Communication Changes2. The Genius of Invention3. Changing of Society
Communication ChangesCommunication
technology - helped people communicate – leads to economic growth
(1860) Telegraph – Samuel Morse – Morse code – instant communication throughout the country and eventually internationally
(1876) Telephone – Alexander Graham Bell – 1st customers were businesses, then in homes
The Genius of Invention 1860-1890, a burst of inventions
spilled throughout the United States. Businesses operate more efficiently Other inventions affected everyday life Thomas Edison (Wizard of Menlo Park)
– phonograph, motion picture projector, telephone transmitter, storage battery
Light bulb George Westinghouse –Incorporated it
(light bulb) to be used more universally
African American inventors: Lewis Howard Latimer – improved
filament to be used in the light bulb Elijah McCoy – mechanism for oiling
machinery Jan E. Matzeliger – shoe-making
machine
Changing of Society New era of transportation
Henry Ford establishes the automobile making industry
Model T 1st affordable car created for
mass production and the average consumer
Ford pioneered the assembly line more efficient way to make
goods Mass production of goods
make more good cheaper to make and sell
Mail delivery to rural and urban areas allowed companies to ship and advertise to a much larger population
Chain stores grew rapidly – Woolworths (5 and 10 cent stores)
1. Working Conditions2. Labor Unions Reform3. The Unions Act
1. Working ConditionsContinually deteriorating
working conditions10-12 hour daysFired for any reason –
replaced by immigrants who would work for less
Noisy, unhealthy, unsafe workplaces – sweatshops
Women typically worked in textile factories – received lesser salaries than men
Industries hired children – many states pass child labor laws making it illegal for children to work under 12 years old or more than 10 hours a day
2. Labor Unions Reform Demand better treatment Trade Unions have little influence
because each one represented their own trade
Knights of Labor (Terrence Powderly) –African-Americans, women, immigrants, and unskilled laborers
American Federation of Labor (Samuel Gompers) – represented skilled workers in various crafts
Collective bargaining Mary Harris Jones (Mother Jones)
- women’s rights at the turn of the 20th century
Triangle Shirtwaist Fire – led to the International Ladies’ Garment Workers Union – pushed for a safer working environment
3. The Unions Act 1870s and 90s: strikes that sometimes
sparked violence Strikebreakers replace striking workers Federal troops used to restore order Haymarket Riot: labor movement =
terrorism Homestead Strike: steelworker’s union
dwindles Pullman Strike: railroad workers strike
refusing to work the railcars suspending transportation of goods and services
US Attorney General orders an injunction to put the railroad workers back to work
Eugene V. Debs – leader of strike, refuses to end the strike and is sent to jail
Failure of the Pullman Strike deals another blow to the labor unions